- Joined
- Aug 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,117
im with bushman the things i carry in my edc are the same things i would have in a psk, i always just make sure to stock my medical kit up before i go out in the woods
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
No survival kit.
- Thread starter Shotgun
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,711
I have no survival kit or BOB at all. But I do have some useful items that I carry on me every day (flashlights, peanut lighter, knife, SAK, Multitool). My vehicle is a 400cc motor scooter (the best 'around city' transport a person could own) which doesn't give me a lot of room to carry emergency equipment. Nevertheless I do have a few useful items stored on the scooter - small FAK, emergency blanket, flashlight, factory toolkit, waterproof overpants, waterproof overgloves, a hank of paracord (it would be more than 60'), titanium cup, sunscreen, titanium knife & fork & spoon and dental floss.
I am not as well equipped as I could be, but I am not totally unprepared either. In the garage near where I park the scooter is my camping equipment - that gear close together is my equivalent of a BOB. If I had to get out quickly then I would throw as much as possible onto the scooter and go. I have useful items like: tent, bedroll, sleeping bag, propane camp stove & spare cylinders, emergency fishing kit, 20 Litre collapsible water container, cookware & plates. There is also a fridge/freezer in the garage that has 7 litres of clean drinking water (between 3 bottles) which I would grab in an emergency - unfortunately I would have to leave the alcohol.
If I had some spare time then I would go into my bedroom and grab a few useful items as well: more paracord, more knives, more lighters & PJ cotton balls, sharpening kit, more flashlights, toilet paper & clothing.
I figure that even if you have a BOB sitting by your door you could still be unlucky and not be near home when disaster strikes - you may just have to make do with whatever you have on you. I EDC enough items to at least have some useful stuff on hand and my scooter has the FAK & survival blanket which could be life savers in an emergency.
I am not as well equipped as I could be, but I am not totally unprepared either. In the garage near where I park the scooter is my camping equipment - that gear close together is my equivalent of a BOB. If I had to get out quickly then I would throw as much as possible onto the scooter and go. I have useful items like: tent, bedroll, sleeping bag, propane camp stove & spare cylinders, emergency fishing kit, 20 Litre collapsible water container, cookware & plates. There is also a fridge/freezer in the garage that has 7 litres of clean drinking water (between 3 bottles) which I would grab in an emergency - unfortunately I would have to leave the alcohol.
If I had some spare time then I would go into my bedroom and grab a few useful items as well: more paracord, more knives, more lighters & PJ cotton balls, sharpening kit, more flashlights, toilet paper & clothing.
I figure that even if you have a BOB sitting by your door you could still be unlucky and not be near home when disaster strikes - you may just have to make do with whatever you have on you. I EDC enough items to at least have some useful stuff on hand and my scooter has the FAK & survival blanket which could be life savers in an emergency.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2008
- Messages
- 7,283
Everything I carry with me, I tend to view as something I can use whenever I want. There is no reason to have something with you and never be able to use it in my opinion. I used to carry what I would consider "last ditch only if.." but I started to use the stuff in it, and found that it really just added onto the pack itself and made myself more comfortable.
Me too, although I tend to have extra stashes of the same stuff I regularly use tucked away here and there.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 636
Great thread Shotgun - I am in the apparently distinct minority of WSS members who carry a dedicated survival kit that I don't use for any reason other than a "real" emergency. It does require me to carry more gear as most of what is in my kit I do have an extra of and use with frequency. That said, it gives me peace of mind to know that my kit is always complete and I never have to think about whether or not I used the fire starting material in it or something else. I have absolutely no problem with what others have posted regarding not carrying a dedicated kit, but instead carrying what they use. No system is perfect and I think we all agree that knowlege of how to use what you have and what you can improvise from the enviorment is what is most important, besides of course, not getting yourself into a "survival" situation to begin with
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2009
- Messages
- 795
No kit for me, just all the ordinary things I carry around pretty much all the time. All of my stuff gets used, some more frequently than others. I used to play around with kits but came to the conclusion that a lot of it is mental masturbation. Snare wire for example, unless aliens abduct me and drop me off in the middle of the backcountry I am never going to have to depend on trapping small animals to survive. I know how to build snares and have caught game with them, I just think it is far fetched to think it is needed in a kit.
Actually I carry a small fishing kit, not for survival really, I just enjoy fishing, a fire kit and a very small FAK and that's about it. Chris
Actually I carry a small fishing kit, not for survival really, I just enjoy fishing, a fire kit and a very small FAK and that's about it. Chris
I would consider having backups for your primaries as a sort of emergency kit, but it's no replacement for being prepared in your pack. It may not be all grouped together in a "kit", but you probably have more than one knife, more than one ignition source...etc. Or at least more of something than one might think they needed
I like this thread: It makes me think about what I carry each day, and consider that if I am properly equipped and prepared, then there truly is no need for an emergency kit, just the ability to sustain for longer than expected with what I already brought along.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,484
As well as a knife (often a fixed blade, but sometimes a folder 
), I have a kit I always take with me when I go bush, whether it be for a few hours picking Blackberries or on my extended trips (ie week +).
From what I've read on the net for the last 5+ years, most wouldn't consider it to be a PSK as such.
It's a First Aid kit that has a Bic mini lighter, Paraffin soaked three ply cardboard, and a very small fishing kit added
Kind regards
Mick
), I have a kit I always take with me when I go bush, whether it be for a few hours picking Blackberries or on my extended trips (ie week +).From what I've read on the net for the last 5+ years, most wouldn't consider it to be a PSK as such.
It's a First Aid kit that has a Bic mini lighter, Paraffin soaked three ply cardboard, and a very small fishing kit added
Kind regards
Mick
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,797
Nothing in my kit ever gets taken out once I put it in there. My reason for that is that I will certainly not always remember to put it back, then when I need it, it won't be there. If one is absent minded, best leave it in there for good. I do test my items before they go in the kit. I sometimes update some items but the new one goes in when the old one comes out.
As they say, the memory is the first thing to go. I forgot what is second.
I do the same thing, for the same reasons. If I only had a dollar for every time I wandered around the house, scratching my head, and muttering "Now where did that go..."
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 4,012
Probably the closest I come to some sort of survival kit -
If I'm going on a proper trip I'll have a bunch of far more dedicated gear, but this is the kind of bag that lives in a vest or coat pocket and solves real world problems just for day hikes or a simple overnight it the woods job.
I can't be bothered to list all of it but some of it is: Mediswabs, antiseptic, burn dressing, wound dressing, eye bath, various useful pills, Orajel, KMnO4, tin foil, Transpore and other medical tape, abduct tape, safety pins + needles and thread, scalpel, cotton wool eye makeup pads, surgical gloves, and so on. It's just a simple little bag for mending stuff, mostly me. Because it is soft, small, light, I don't notice it in a vest and it provides a useful working bucket to bolster the other crap in my pockets; bits of string, plastic bags, insect repellent, bite 'n' sting cream .etc. Obviously a case can be made that for that size I could be carrying an all singing battle dressing but on balance of probability these are the things I really need just to get out and about for a bit. I don't hesitate to use any of it if I need it.
If I'm going on a proper trip I'll have a bunch of far more dedicated gear, but this is the kind of bag that lives in a vest or coat pocket and solves real world problems just for day hikes or a simple overnight it the woods job.
I can't be bothered to list all of it but some of it is: Mediswabs, antiseptic, burn dressing, wound dressing, eye bath, various useful pills, Orajel, KMnO4, tin foil, Transpore and other medical tape, abduct tape, safety pins + needles and thread, scalpel, cotton wool eye makeup pads, surgical gloves, and so on. It's just a simple little bag for mending stuff, mostly me. Because it is soft, small, light, I don't notice it in a vest and it provides a useful working bucket to bolster the other crap in my pockets; bits of string, plastic bags, insect repellent, bite 'n' sting cream .etc. Obviously a case can be made that for that size I could be carrying an all singing battle dressing but on balance of probability these are the things I really need just to get out and about for a bit. I don't hesitate to use any of it if I need it.
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 5,944
I Carry pretty much the same stuff with me whether I'm out for the day or 3 days... Give or take some food or a sleeping bag.. My regular kit provides me with more than enough to squeak through a night or 2 should stuff go south... I don't really pack a dedicated psk... Just seems more like an excercise really to see how many hypotheticals you can preparefor , and shop fpr and find the perfect thing for... Don;t get me wrong it;s a good excercise... But one that can never compenate for basic general items and a strong foundation of knowledge and skill..Thats my opinion, at least as it regards to my limited level of abilities. Ymmv
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 7,035
No, I don't use my PSK or IFAK unless it's an emergency.
Reason being, I'm one of those over-prepared guys that has duplicates ( or larger, more robust versions in my pack. The PSK, and IFAK fit into separate Aloksaks that ride in the cargo pockets of my pants.
Reason being, I'm one of those over-prepared guys that has duplicates ( or larger, more robust versions in my pack. The PSK, and IFAK fit into separate Aloksaks that ride in the cargo pockets of my pants.
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 4,012
That's roughly my attitude. Some stuff does change like I'll carry a heliograph, more sophisticated first aid, spare batteries, foot powder, dedicated firelighters .etc, on a protracted trip, but mostly simple adaptable things. I would rather a few things with a multitude of uses if I adapt than a lot of things adapted for unlikely niches. The only real exception is Issey Miyake. Don't want mah woman breaking into a cock-blocking rendition of it's a little bit cheesy, but it's nicely displayed [Zappa] on day five.
that pretty much was my attitude- when I went out to the "woods" hunting/fishing/hiking I felt I covered my needs pretty adequately. what got me to thinking was all the times I wasn't headed out to the woods- could something possibly go wrong during those large blocks of time? I live in a very rural area (we drive 150 miles one way to go shopping in the "city"
) and the answer I came up w/ is- yeah I could potentially find myself in a bind sometime. a few small, unobtrusive items carried w/ me daily make me feel a little better if that were to occur I'd be a little bit better prepared - Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,021
No kit for me, just all the ordinary things I carry around pretty much all the time. All of my stuff gets used, some more frequently than others. I used to play around with kits but came to the conclusion that a lot of it is mental masturbation. Snare wire for example, unless aliens abduct me and drop me off in the middle of the backcountry I am never going to have to depend on trapping small animals to survive. I know how to build snares and have caught game with them, I just think it is far fetched to think it is needed in a kit.
Hey Chris, I'm guessing it's either late night, or early morning for you, because I know, you know, snare wire can be used for a lot more things than snaring critters.
Actually I carry a small fishing kit, not for survival really, I just enjoy fishing, a fire kit and a very small FAK and that's about it. Chris
Come on, Chris, admit it, that's a survival kit! Unless you also enjoy making fires and hurting yourself.
Doc
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,021
As well as a knife (often a fixed blade, but sometimes a folder
From what I've read on the net for the last 5+ years, most wouldn't consider it to be a PSK as such.
It's a First Aid kit that has a Bic mini lighter, Paraffin soaked three ply cardboard, and a very small fishing kit added
Kind regards
Mick
Hi Mick. Sounds like a PSK to me.
Doc
Here's my point, Chris and Mick and some others are saying they don't carry a PSK. I maintain they do. If you always carry certain items with you, that you don't use a lot of the time, but like to have just in case, that's a PSK. It doesn't have to come housed in a nice little Pelican box or whatever and it doesn't have to weigh 10 pounds or more - and it can just be 2 or 3 items. It can be split up amongst different pockets, but it is still your version of a Personal Survival Kit. How many of you carry a Bic, but you don't use it every trip, or bandaids, or a spare compass? I rest my case.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 2,304
I agree with you.. to a point. I have several kit that are "no touch kits" that do not get used for camping or any other activity, they are for emergency use only. These are the BOBs for myself and my family, my CERT/ARES go bag, and my in office GHE bag at work.
BUT, every single item in those bags has been tested, used, and abused, and been added to those kits based on it's usefulness and reliability. True, most folks don't build more then one kit, I just happen to have built a bunch. Going from one kit to the next, you will find they all contain the same basic tools (knives, FA gear, N95 masks, safety glasses, mylan blankets, poncho, etc). The reason for this of course is to insure that in a true emergency, the gear is right where I can lay my hands on it, nothing is missing, etc. That and the fact since it is exactly the same gear I use daily (example, SAK and RC Izula) I have nothing unfamiliar to fumble around with. There are exceptions in the kits that are not EDC items, but they are always additions to my core gear.
So to me, having a "no touch" kit makes sense, but that is only because I have my EDC use gear.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,484
G'Doc
).
Over the last 5+ years, it has been pointed out to me by various "PSK gurus" that it is a modified FAK not a PSK.
Thus my qualifying statement of "From what I've read on the net for the last 5+ years, most wouldn't consider it to be a PSK as such".
Kind regards
Mick
Putting semantics aside, you are right. It is functionally a small survival kit with the focus on medical considerations (especially snake biteHi Mick. Sounds like a PSK to me.
).Over the last 5+ years, it has been pointed out to me by various "PSK gurus" that it is a modified FAK not a PSK.
Thus my qualifying statement of "From what I've read on the net for the last 5+ years, most wouldn't consider it to be a PSK as such".
Kind regards
Mick